Improved apparatus for exhausting air from and hermetically sealing cans and vessels



A. M. PURNELL.

i Hermetc Sealing.

Patented Nov. 25., 1856.

^ IINTTED STATES ATENT Trittin..

A. M. PURNELL, OF VASHINGTN, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING AIR FROM AND HERIVIETICALLY SEALING CANS AND VESSELS.

Specification forming part of' Letters Patent No. 16,126, dated November 25, 1356.

To a/ZZ whom, t 11m/,y concer/ft:

Be it known that I, AURELrUs M. PUR NELL, of the city of lashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful apparatus for exhausting air from jars containing fruit, vegetables, cbc., without heat ing the contents, together with a new and improved top for jars, to be used in connection with said apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the aecompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of exhauster in connection with jar to be exhausted. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of exhausi'cr, showing also the section of tube L. Fig. 3 is a perspeetive view of top, to be used in connection with exhauster. j

The parts of each are respectively as fol lows: A is the tin can or exhauster. Bis a tin tube communicating with cau A by means of a small hole. C is also a tin tube `communicating with tube Bby means of a small hole, and is open at both ends. d, Fig. 3, is a tin tube having a ilared rim,`D, around it near its middle. E, Fig. 3, is a tin top iitting loosely over tube d. F is a short tube soldered to the top E. G is a smaller' tube soldered also to the top F, and inside oi' T, thnsleaving a space between the'two tubes. H, Fig. l, is a block of wood or any other iirm body between can A and glass jar K. K K is a glass jar and top in connection. I is the hand of the operator, and J a heated oven.

Having now described the apparatus and tops to be used in connection with it, I will proceed to describe their construction and operation.

The can or enhauster A is made of stout tin-say XX tin-to contain one-half gallon, or more. 0n the inner part of the top, and as near its center as possible, is soldered one end of a tin tube two inches in diameter. (See Fig. 2.) This tube has several holes punched in it near its upper end for the free passage of air and steam. The lower end of the tube is not soldered to the bottom, but simply rests against it, the object of it is to strengthen the can and prevent any collapse of top or bottom Yafter the expulsion of the air. Three-fourths of an inch from the top of can A a hole is punched from the inner side, and is one-eighth of an inchin diameter. A tin tube, B, one-half inch in diameter, is soldered around this hole and projects out at a right angle from the can one and one-half inch. The tube B then ascends perpendicularly ten inches, then projects horizontally over nearly to the center of the can A. Across the cud ot' the tube B is soldered the short tube (l, being one and onefourth inch long, open at both ends, and having a small hole punched in it one-half inch from its upper end, thus making a communication with tube B.

l The top forjars, Fig. 3, is made as follows: dis a tin tube one and one-hal t' inch long, and made to iit smoothly in the jar intended to be used. On its outside, and near its middle, is soldered a iiared rim, D, so as to form a space wide at top and narrow at bottom for holding cement. E of Fig. 3 is a top, made of tin, to tit loosely over tube d. On this top is soldered a small tube, G, one-half inch long and tting smoothly in the lower end of 'tube C of Fig. l. Around. this small tube G is soldered a larger tube, F, being one and one-fourth inch in diameter, and about three-eighths inch high, thus leaving a space between the two tubes F and Gfor the introduction of melted cement. In the center ofthe top E, being also in the center of tube G, is a small hole, one-eighth inch in diameter, punched from the inner side ofthe top and its projecting roughness vled off, so as to leave a smooth projecting margin around the hole.

Having described the construction of the can or exhaustcr and top to be used in conncction with it, I will proceed to describe the operation of the same: First, introduce four or ve ounces oi" water in to the exhauster by heating it (the exhauster) a little to drive out a portion of the air, then dip the tube C in the water. As the exhauster cools the water will run in; then wipe the water from the tube c. Next, having secured the lower part of top, Fig. 3, to thejar by means of a cement that adheres well to tin or glass, (and will not melt at the temperature or' boiling water,) hav- 'ing also lilled the jar placed on the top E, and

poured the cement in the groove for its reeeption and allowed it to cool, connect the tube Gwith tube G, Fig. 1, elevate the j ar, and place some rm body under it, resting at the same time on can A. Then fill the space between tubes F and G with cement composed of equal proportions of beeswax and rosin when cool, thus making,` an air-tight connection between the two tubes. A small circular piece of paper dipped in the melted cement and allowed to cool, or `a piece of thin ealfskin leather waxed, or a piece of vthin india-rubber, is

dropped in the top of tube C and made to cover y the hole underneath. A corkis then cut to iit loosely in tube G, having` a hole through its center. The cork is then dropped in through the top of C, falls on the waxed valve, and keeps it from being` displaced. Next, taking,` hold of the tube B, place exhausters on a hot oven, stove, or over aspirit-lamp till the horizontal tube becomes warm to the hand; then close the upper end of tube C with the thumb, lift all, and place exhausters in cold water till perfectly cool, when the air will be drawn from the jar through the tube. The thumb may now be removed and the operation of heating` and cooling may be repeated, if necessary, lto

draw out another portion of air. Vhen the jar is suiiiciently exhausted, the block may be removed and the tubes separated. The cork is now taken out and t-he waxed paper, acting as a valve, allowed to remain. and the tube lled with a plug of cement. When it is desirable to preserve with sirup, the sirup may be put in with the fruit, the air exhausted, and again admitted to the jar. The sirup ist-hus made t-o penetrate the fruit, and it becomes instantly saturated, when the sirup may be poured oil' to saturate another portion or allowed to remain. 1f poured off, the air must be exhausted,- as before described, and cooled.

I claim* The apparatus constructed and operated as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

A. M. PURNELL.

Witnesses:

I. H. Ronnn'rs, B. F. MoRsELL. 

